JPH02210415A - Endoscope connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the exact positioning of the end face of an image guide fiber by providing a connector with an energizing means for pressing the contact surfaces of the connector and a subject observing means at the time of connecting the connector to the subject observing means. CONSTITUTION:A flange part 48 is annularly provided on the outer peripheral wall on a TV camera device side of a cam ring 47 provided freely slidably in a sliding part 46 on a connector 11 side and a coil spring 49 as the energizing means is energized and provided between this flange part 48 and a peripheral part 43. A tapered part 24 is provided in a socket insertion part 23 and a tapered hole 67 on a socket 19 side. The tapered part 24 and the tapered hole 67 are pressed by the coil spring 49. The end face of the image guide fiber 17 is positioned to the focusing point of an imaging lens system 67 in this way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope connector device for transmitting an object image.

[Problems that conventional technology and inventions are trying to solve] In recent years,
A method has been adopted in which a television camera is attached to the eyepiece optical system of an endoscope, the images are viewed by a plurality of observers on a television monitor, and the images are recorded by a video system and repeatedly played back to improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

The above method is also used for d5 endoscopes used during surgery such as angioscopy, but since this endoscope is used during surgery, there is a distinction between clean and unclean areas. . - Generally, television cameras, etc. have a structure that cannot be disinfected or sterilized, making them unclean areas, and the eyepiece of the endoscope to which the television camera is connected is also an unclean area, which the surgeon cannot touch. Can not. To this end, an endoscope has been devised, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59-232311, in which the operating section of the endoscope, which is frequently touched by the operator, is separated from the eyepiece section.

In addition, in order to make it simpler, smaller and lighter than an endoscope,
No. 2-201134 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63278016 disclose a technique in which the eyepiece is removed from the endoscope, an image guide is directly connected to a TV camera, and a subject image is formed. Furthermore, American Special Edition No. 11.62
No. 1.24.3 shows an endoscope whose eyepiece and insertion section can be removed.

By the way, when connecting the image guide to a TV camera or eyepiece, the end surface of the image guide must be positioned at the focal point of the imaging lens system on the observation side, otherwise the subject image will not be in focus. Therefore, it is necessary to match the distance between the TV camera or eyepiece and the image guide.

However, the above conventional example, JP-A No. 63-278016,
This point is not mentioned in the publication, and also,
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-201134, a click mechanism is used to openably hold the connectors and fix one connector, but no active means for matching the distances is provided.

Furthermore, in U.S. Pat. It was necessary to perform the extraction, and the operation was complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to easily connect a connector containing an image guide fiber to an object observation means, and to accurately connect the end face of the image guide fiber to an imaging lens system of the object observation means. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope connector device that can be positioned at the focal point of the endoscope.

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems] The endoscope connector device of the present invention provides a biasing means for pressing the contact surface between the connector and the object observation means when connecting the connector to the object observation means. It is prepared for.

In the present invention, the connector is provided with a biasing means, and this biasing means presses the contact surface between the connector and the object observation means to bring the connector to the focused point.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a sectional view showing the overall configuration of the endoscope connector device, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the connector, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the vascular endoscope, and FIG. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the attached device to which the angioscope is connected, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cam ring and socket section, Fig. 7 is a view taken along the arrow B-B' in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cam ring and socket section. The figure is a view taken along the line C--C in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the connection between the connector part and the socket part.

In Figs. 3 to 5, the interior mirror device 1 of the wooden embodiment is shown.
is the angioscope 2 and the TV to which this angioscope 2 is connected.
It is comprised of a camera device 3, a light source device 4 that supplies illumination light to the angioscope 2, and a monitor 6 that displays an endoscopic image obtained from the angioscope 2.

The angioscope 2 includes a flexible and elongated insertion section 7 and a grip section 8 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 7. Further, a universal cord 9 extends from the rear end of the grip portion 8, and an image guide connector 1 is provided at the rear end of the universal cord 9. A light guide cord 12 extends from the side of the image guide connector 11, and a light guide connector 3 is provided at the rear end of the light guide cord 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, an objective lens 14 and a light distribution lens 16 are provided on the distal end surface of the insertion section 7, and an image guide fiber 7 for transmitting a subject image is provided at the imaging position of the objective lens 14. An entrance end face is provided. The image guide fiber 17 is inserted through the insertion section 7, the grip section 8, and the universal cord 9 to reach the image guide connector 1. Further, an output end face of a light guide fiber 18 for transmitting illumination light is provided behind the light distribution lens 16, and this light guide fiber 18 includes an insertion section 7, a grip section 8, a universal cord, and an image guide. The connector 1 and the light guide cord 12 are inserted to reach the light guide connector 3.

The image guide connector 1 is connected to the TV camera
It is connected to one socket part of No. 3 in a freely attachable manner. When the image guide connector cover 11 is connected to this socket portion 19, the direction of the light guide cord 12 is so arranged that it covers the horizontal position, and the light source socket of the light source device 4 provided in parallel with the TV television device 3 is arranged. The light guide connector 13 can be easily connected to the portion 21.

The light source device 4 has a light source unit (not shown) that generates illumination light, and supplies the illumination light generated from the light source unit to the incident end face of the light guide fiber 18 provided in the connected light guide connector 13. It's starting to get worse.

The TV camera device 3 has a TV camera (not shown),
A subject image transmitted through an image guide fiber 17 provided in an image guide connector 11 is input to this TV camera.

Furthermore, in the TV camera device 3, the image guide fiber 1
The subject image incident from 7 is electrically converted and subjected to predetermined signal processing, and the endoscope image is displayed on the monitor 6.

In FIG. 2, the image guide connector 11 includes a main body part 22 which the abutment grips when connecting to the socket part 19, and a socket insertion part 23 formed to have a smaller diameter than the main body part 22 which is inserted into the socket part 19. It consists of

The main body part 22 and the socket insertion part 23 are formed in a cylindrical shape, and the socket insertion part 23 is fitted into the main body part 22 and fixed with a screw 24a.

A tapered part 24 is formed at the distal end of the socket insertion part 23 so that the diameter becomes smaller in the distal direction, and a narrower diameter part 26 is further formed on the distal end side of the tapered part 24.

Socket insertion part 2 on the main body part 22 side from the tapered part 24
Pins 27 and 27 are screwed into the large diameter portion 25, which is the outer circumferential wall of No. 3, at an angle of 180 mm to each other and protrude in the radial direction.

A cover glass 28 is attached to the distal end surface of the socket insertion portion 23, and 1! A etc. are not included. The image guide fiber 7 is inserted into the socket insertion portion 23 sealed with the cover glass 28.
The output end face of the light emitting device faces the cover glass 28 .

The tip of the image guide fiber 7 has a main body 2.
7 flange part 29a on the 2 side, and a small diameter holding part 2 on the tip side.
An image guide holding member 29 having a numeral 9b formed thereon is fitted onto the outside and fixed with an adhesive or the like.

A cylindrical centering member 31, which is slidably provided on the inner peripheral wall of the socket insertion part 23, is screwed into the peripheral wall of the holding part 29b in the radial direction, and is designed so as to have a 180 degree angle with respect to each other. (The tips of the centering screws 32 and 32 come into contact with each other, and by loosening one of the centering screws 32 and screwing in the other centering screw 32, the image guide fiber 7 can be moved. Adjustment of the center in the longitudinal direction and Zunawara centering are possible.

The outer circumferential wall of the centering member 31 and the centering screw 32
An adjustment recess 33 for moving the centering member 31 in the longitudinal direction is provided closer to the main body 22 side. A hole 3 is provided in the peripheral wall of the socket insertion portion 23 corresponding to this adjustment recess 33.
6 is provided, roughly the centering screw 32.3
A hole 34.3 is provided in the peripheral wall of the socket insertion portion 23 corresponding to the hole 34.3.
4 is provided.

In FIG. 1, the socket portion 19 provided in the TV camera device 3 consists of a large diameter portion 37 and a small diameter portion 38, the large diameter portion 37 is located inside the camera device 3, and the small diameter portion 38 is located inside the TV camera device 3. Mounting is done through screws 41.41. through portions 039.39 so that they are exposed to the outside of the camera device 3. It is fixed by...

The periphery of the small diameter portion 38 is covered by a substantially cylindrical cover member 42 such that there is a space between the small diameter portion 38 and the cover member 42. Connector 1 of cover member 42
The end on the first side is closed and forms a wall 43.

In the small diameter portion 38, a small diameter sliding portion 46 is formed on the side of the connector 11 by a stepped portion 44, and a substantially cylindrical cam ring 47 is slidably installed (pushed) in this sliding portion 46. A seven flange portion 48 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the cam ring 47 on the TV camera device 0 3 side.
A coil spring 49 serving as a biasing means is provided between the 7 flange portion/1.8 and the wall portion 43 to be biased. When the connector 11 is not connected, the cam ring 47 is moved between the flange portion 48 and the stepped portion 4 by the coil spring 49.
4 are in contact with each other.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 7, an elongated hole 61 is provided in the peripheral wall of the cam ring 47 in the longitudinal direction, and a pin 62 protruding in the radial direction of the sliding portion 46 is engaged with this elongated hole 61. has been entered,
Rotation of the cam ring 47 is restricted.

6 to 9, the cam ring 47 is provided with cam grooves 51,51. This cam groove 51. ．．
51 is a continuous vertical groove portion 53, diagonal groove portion 54, and horizontal groove portion 5.
5, and the vertical groove portion 53 is connected to the connector 11 of the cam ring 47.
It is open on the side. The sliding portion 46 also has a cam groove 56.
56 are provided. This cam groove 56 consists of a continuous vertical groove part 57, an oblique groove part 58, and a vertical groove part 59, and the vertical groove part 57 is open on the =1 connector 11 side of the sliding part 7'I6. A part of the diagonal groove portion 58 of this sliding portion 46 is connected to the connector 1.
1 is not connected, the cam ring 4 is connected as shown in Fig. 9(a).
When the connector 11 is rotated when the connector 11 is connected, the pin 27 comes into contact with the slope 63 on the cam ring 47 side.

A communicating hole 64 is provided in the socket portion 19, and a socket insertion hole having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 25 of the socket insertion portion 19 is inserted into the hole 64 from the connector 11 side. 66 and the tapered portion 24 of the socket insertion portion 23 inserted through the socket insertion hole 66 abut,
A tapered hole 67 having approximately the same taper angle as this tapered portion 24
and a lens hole 69 provided with an imaging lens system 68 for forming the subject image transmitted through the image guide fiber 17 are provided in this order.

Incidentally, the center of the tapered hole 67 and the optical axis of the imaging lens system 68 are set to coincide with each other.

In the lens hole 69 and at the imaging position of the imaging lens system 68, an image carrying surface of a solid-state image sensor 71 serving as a subject observation means is provided. The side surface of this solid-state image sensor 71 is provided with an imaging lens system 6 screwed into the socket portion 19 in the radial direction.
8 and the optical axis of the solid-state image sensor 71. The tips of the adjustment screws 72 and 72 are in contact with each other. Loosen one adjustment screw 72 and screw in the other adjustment screw 72. This allows the optical axis to be adjusted.

The operation of the endoscope connector device 5 configured as described above will be explained.

The optical axis adjustment of the image guide fiber 17 inserted into the image guide connector 11 is performed as follows.

When one centering screw 32 screwed into the centering member 31 is loosened and the other centering screw 32 is screwed in, the image guide fiber 17 is pressed in the direction in which it is screwed in through the holding member 29, and the optical axis is moves, and the image guide fiber 17
The optical axis of the connector 11 and the center line of the connector 11 are adjusted.

In addition, a rod-shaped tool is inserted into the adjusting recess 33 through the hole 36, and the holding member 29 is moved via the centering member 31.
The output end face of the image guide fiber 17 is moved in the longitudinal direction.

The optical axis adjustment of the image guide connector 11 is performed as described above.

When connecting the image guide connector 11 to the TV camera device 3, insert a pin into the hole formed by the cam groove 56 of the socket portion 19 and a notch (not shown) provided in the end surface of the cover member 42 on the connector 11 side. 27 is inserted into the socket insertion hole 66.

In FIG. 9, when the pin 27 passes through the vertical groove portion 57 and approaches the diagonal groove portion 58, the diagonal groove portion 54 of the cam ring 51
Press the slope 63 of. The cam ring 51 is pushed toward the TV camera device 3 by the coil spring 49, but by rotating the =1 connector 11, the pin 27 pushes the cam ring 47 toward the coil spring 49 as shown in FIG. , and move it in the direction of the arrow. By further rotating the connector 11, the pin 27 presses the cam ring 51 in the direction of the arrow along the diagonal groove 58, increasing the biasing force of the coil spring 49, and pushing the vertical groove 59 as shown in FIG. approaching. When you let go of the connector 11, the force of the coil spring 49 causes the lateral groove 5 on the cam ring 47 side to
5 presses the pin 27 in the direction of arrow E and moves it to the inner end of the five vertical grooves on the sliding part 46 side. The pin 27 is in the vertical groove portion 59
At the same time, the tapered portion 24 comes into contact with the tapered hole 67. The taper angles of the tapered portion 24 and the tapered hole 67 are approximately the same, and as the tapered portion 24 is pressed against the tapered hole 67 by the coil spring 49, the end face of the image guide fiber 17 on the connector 11 side is turned into an imaging lens. It is located at the focal point of the system 68. By positioning the end face of the image guide fiber 17 at the focal point, a focused subject image is formed on the imaging surface of the solid silver image element 71, and a clear endoscopic image is displayed on the screen of the monitor 6. Is displayed.

In addition, when an external force is applied to pull out the connector 11 in the connected state, the biasing force of the coil spring 49 and the diagonal groove portion 58 prevent the connector 11 from being pulled out.

Further, if an external force that causes the connector 11 to rotate is applied, the vertical groove portion 59 prevents this.

When removing the connector 11 from the TV camera device 3, first pull the connector 11, pull the pin 27 to the diagonal groove 58, and then rotate it. This allows the connector 1 to be removed from one socket part.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the socket insertion part 23 is provided with the tapered part 24, and the socket part 19 side is provided with the tapered hole 67,
This tapered portion 2-1 and the tapered hole 67 are connected by a coil spring 49.
The end face of the image guide fiber 17 can be positioned at the focal point of the imaging lens system 68 by pressing the end face of the image guide fiber 17.

Further, by providing the grooves 51 and 56, the connector 11 (!) can be easily connected to the TV camera device 3 by simply inserting it with one hand and rotating it.

Furthermore, the end face of the image guide can be set in a predetermined position by the biasing means in one-touch mounting, and complicated operations such as focusing are unnecessary, allowing for easy handling.

Further, since there is no need to provide a lens feeding mechanism for focusing, the structure is simplified.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an endoscope connector device connected to an eyepiece according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The structure of the image guide connector 11 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Further, the configuration of the eyepiece portion 76 is also partially similar to the configuration of the small diameter portion 38 of the first embodiment, and similar members will be designated by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will be omitted.

An eyepiece section 76 serving as a means for observing an object is comprised of an eyepiece 77, which extends from the connector 11 side to a small diameter section 38 and a large diameter section 37. An eyepiece system 78 and an adjustment lens group 79 are provided in the large diameter portion 37 so as to coincide with the optical axis of the connected connector 11 . The adjustment lens group 79 has a cylindrical shape and is fixed within a movable ring 81 that is slidably provided within the lens hole 69. A pin 82 is screwed into the outer circumferential wall of the movable ring 81 so as to protrude in the radial direction, and this pin 82 passes through a long hole 84 provided in the outer circumferential wall of the large diameter portion 37 in the longitudinal direction. It looks like this.

Further, the portion of the pin 82 that protrudes from the large diameter portion 37 is adapted to engage in a cam groove 86 provided in a cylindrical cam ring 83 that is rotatably fitted loosely into the large diameter portion 37. . This cam groove 86 is provided obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction.

This cam ring 83 is externally fitted onto the large diameter portion 37 by an adjustment ring 87, and is fixed to the adjustment ring 87 with a screw 88. Note that the adjustment ring 87 is rotatably provided with respect to the large diameter portion 37.

The eyepiece 77 is provided with eight cover glasses, and the subject image is observed with the naked eye through the cover glasses 89.

Note that the shape of the eyepiece 77 is such that an external imaging device or the like can be attached thereto.

The eyepiece portion 76 and the connector 11 of this embodiment are connected in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Further, the diopter can be adjusted using an adjustment ring 87. That is, the cam ring 83 is fixed to the adjustment ring 87 by rotating the adjustment ring 87.
rotates, and the pin 82 is engaged with the cam ring 86 of the cam ring 83 and whose rotation is restricted by the elongated hole 8/I moves in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the movable ring 81 moves in the longitudinal direction, and the diopter can be adjusted.

In this embodiment, the eyepiece 76 can be easily connected to the connector 11, and the end face of the image guide fiber 17 on the connector 11 side can be positioned at the focal point of the eyepiece lens system 78 of the eyepiece 76. Can be done.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the TV camera device 3 and the monitor 6
Endoscopic images can be easily observed with the naked eye without using a .

Furthermore, in addition to visual observation, a cine camera, still camera, etc. can be connected to the eyepiece 77, allowing for a wide range of uses.

Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as in the first embodiment.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily connect the connector including the image guide noiba to the object observation means.
In addition, the end face of the image guide mirror can be accurately positioned at the focal point of the imaging lens system of the object observation means.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the endoscope connector device, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the blood vessel endoscope, and Figure 4 is a detailed view of section A in Figure 3. , FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the accessory device to which the angioscope is connected, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cam ring and socket, and FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line c-c' in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when connecting the connector part and the socket part, and
The figure is a sectional view of an endoscope connector device connected to an eyepiece according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 1... Angioendoscope 5... Endoscope connector device 11... Image guide connector 17... Image guide fiber 19... Socket part 24... Taper part 27...
・Pin 49...Coil spring 67...Tapered hole 71...Solid dance @ element (a) (b) Figure 9 (C) (d)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope connector device comprising an image guide that transmits a subject image, and a connector that can detachably connect a proximal end of the image guide to a subject observation means, wherein the connector is connected to the subject observation means. An endoscope connector device characterized in that the connector is provided with a biasing means for pressing a contact surface between the connector and the object observation means to position the connector at a focused point when the connector is connected to the object observation means.